Heart Health
Short-term stroke symptoms still need emergency care
In the journals
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
An episode of stroke symptoms that disappear in less than an hour is known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). After a TIA, it may seem like you're back to normal. Even so, it's still best to seek immediate care to prevent a full-blown stroke, according to a statement from the American Heart Association published online Jan. 19, 2023, by the journal Stroke.
Each year, about 240,000 people experience a TIA — a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. While the TIA itself doesn't cause permanent damage, nearly one out of five people who have a TIA will suffer a full-blown stroke within three months.
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About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
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